Calls for defibrillators to be available where people gather

Calls for the widespread availability of defibrillators wherever people gather have been made in the majority of submissions to a Government taskforce on sudden cardiac death.

Defibrillators resuscitate people who suffer cardiac arrest. They analyse heart rhythm and advise the user when to shock, or not shock, the patient.

The taskforce was set up last September to review the problem of sudden cardiac death, after a number of high-profile athletes died suddenly, including Tyrone football captain Cormac McAnallen.

About 100 submissions from individuals, health professionals, sports groups and commercial groups have been lodged with the group. The taskforce held a second day of consultation yesterday with interested organisations and is due to issue its recommendations in late June or early July.

In its submission, Croí, the west of Ireland cardiology foundation, called for the provision of defibrillators in places where at least 30 people gather.

The charity said it should be mandatory to provide defibrillators in all public buildings and places where health and safety regulations apply. The devices should also be mandatory at sporting events from county level upwards.

It also called for the introduction of the "Good Samaritan" law in Ireland. This law would protect someone from being sued if something went wrong when they were resuscitating a person.

The Croí submission said the 21 per cent VAT rate should be removed from defibrillators and their purchase should be tax-deductible. The devices cost about €2,500-€3,000, including training.

The Order of Malta called for a national reporting system for pre-hospital cardiac arrest as there are no accurate statistics on the incidence of pre-hospital heart attacks.

It called for the mandatory provision of defibrillators in all ambulances, including private and voluntary fleets. It also urged that voluntary ambulances at events be linked with ambulance command and control centres. An Order of Malta ambulance could be at an event but if a member of the public called 999, another ambulance would be sent to the site.